“We’re going to do our best to try to get this closed and it’s our expectation that that’s what we’ll do,” Earnest told reporters.

Similarly, Vice President Joe Biden echoed Earnest’s words in a speech delivered in Sweden, telling the audience it was the goal to close the facility. In sum, 44 terrorists have been released or granted asylum since January, most of whom have been placed in Saudi Arabia, Oman or the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A mass release on Aug. 15 to the UAE accounted for 15 detainees.

A source of controversy since Mr. Obama’s election and the origin of intense friction with Congressional Republicans, 61 alleged terrorists remain detained at the military prison with 20 recently cleared for release.